Elsted Marsh pub B&B, South Downs, England

Location:Elsted Marsh, West Sussex, South Downs National ParkSee map here

More info:Prices vary depending on local events and seasonality. We also have 2 superior rooms. Call us for details and availability

Description of Elsted Marsh pub B&B, South Downs, England

Come and stay with chef/proprietors Malcolm and Lisa. Just off the South Downs Way this inn is the perfect stop over for walkers or cyclists to have something to eat, relax by the fire and get a good nightís sleep. Tucked away in Elsted Marsh, near Midhurst you are surrounded by the beauty of the South Downs National Park.

Stay in one of 4 rooms in the converted coach house and enjoy breakfast in the garden in the summer as you take in the views and watch the birds; or sit by the warm fire in the winter as you tuck into a hearty breakfast prepared with locally farmed produce from the surrounding area. Boasting a traditional country pub experience; from the warm fires, local banter and creative food offerings.

There are lots of things to do in the surrounding area whether you want to walk in the landscape, visit the historical town of Midhurst where you can see the old Cowdray Ruins or take a trip to the famous Goodwood Racecourse. National Trust properties Uppark House and Petworth House are a great day out and Petersfield is another town nearby that has lots of lovely little shops.

Rooms, food and facilities

There are 4 rooms available to choose from in the converted coach house. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom, one with full bath. All rooms have television and tea and coffee making facilities. There are both double and twin rooms available on each of the 2 floors. With a large atrium for the safe keeping of bikes along with 2 ground floor, dog friendly rooms for well behaved well trained dogs.

Map

How to find us

The nearest train station is Petersfield. You can catch a number 92 bus towards Midhurst. Arrive at Trotton and from there it is about a 30 minute walk. Alternatively we can pick you up from the station or the bus stop upon request.

Being very close to the South Downs Way we are happy to pick you up and drop you back off on your path if youíre arriving by foot.

Responsible tourism

As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.

The coach house is the oldest part of the building and is where the B&B rooms are. The main building was built in the late 1800ís and was built as a tavern to supply food and drink to the old railroad. The building is beautiful and has been kept in keeping with its original period style; it is brick and has slate tiling on the roof. There has been quite a bit of restoration done on the pub prior to our arrival. All the wood was stripped down to the original, including the shutters and the floors. The dining room was added on but was done tastefully to be in keeping with the rest of the building; using recycled wood and tongue and groove panelling half way up the walls. There are 3 original wood burning fireplaces and it has a really homely and comfortable feel to it. We also have lovely old photos hung on the walls of the old train station, Goodwood and Cowdray.

We have a pretty 80ft garden that is delightful to sit in and we plan to have night time barbecues come summer, utilising local game. Malcolm loves birds so weíve put up 2 bird feeders on the grass verge across the road so that we and our guests can watch them whilst weíre in the pub. There were 13 different species of birds spotted that came to the feeders in just one afternoon. A few to list that often visit are; woodpeckers; nuthatches; chaffinches; dunnocks; grey, blue, marsh coal and long-tailed tits. There are also barn-owls and Pheasants about as well and the pub is a member of the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds (RSPB).If you are lucky you might also spot deer in the mornings.

Our garden has an established selection of shrubs and trees, and this summer we are going to plant a herb garden that will be used in our kitchen. The neighbouring garden is also of interest as it is host to 1000+ roosting starlings which can be seen in the evenings and are lovely to watch. We hope to get a rainfall tank at some point to catch rain water so it can be used for watering the garden and save on water.

The Impacts of this Trip

Although we have only owned the pub since December 2012, we are already very much involved in the community. We run regular quiz nights to raise money for the local community and charity. Weíve raised money for the air ambulance and other charities we are involved with are cancer care and support and the Ted Foundation (a charity that supports the education of children). The pub also hosts other nights such as meet ups for a folk group on the first Sunday of the month, the pub Cricket Club meets, and vintage car clubs.

The community itself has some great places to visit; there are lots of little craft festivals and fairs that you can find out about in the parish news. I went to one in Millard that was amazing; they had weavers and pottery. There is also a little pottery place just up the road from here. A pub I would recommend is the Three Horse Shoes; they are on a hill so have beautiful views of the Downs. Other places to visit are Petersfield and Midhurst for lots of little shops, Cowdray Ruins, Goodwood Racecourse and National Trust properties Uppark House and Petworth House.

Petworth House is a lovely house to visit that is not far from here. We visited in December and there was a great Christmas market I would recommend. A lovely lady there ended up making all the greenery and Christmas decorations for the pub and the money we spent on our decorations went to the National Trust. The curtains in the rooms are made by a lady in Midhurst and we get our food from local farms. We use Rother Valley Organic Farm as it is sustainable and close by. Some or of meat comes from Goodwood Estate and occasionally we go to an old fashioned butcher in Bilingshurst; itís a bit further away but itís the best pork Iíve ever had. Cowdray are updating to be an organic dairy farm and when they do I will start using them. Itís really a chefís dream around here and people respond very well to the food. We change the menu really regularly depending on what meat we can get from the farms.

Environment

The coach house is the oldest part of the building and is where the B&B rooms are. The main building was built in the late 1800ís and was built as a tavern to supply food and drink to the old railroad. The building is beautiful and has been kept in keeping with its original period style; it is brick and has slate tiling on the roof. There has been quite a bit of restoration done on the pub prior to our arrival. All the wood was stripped down to the original, including the shutters and the floors. The dining room was added on but was done tastefully to be in keeping with the rest of the building; using recycled wood and tongue and groove panelling half way up the walls. There are 3 original wood burning fireplaces and it has a really homely and comfortable feel to it. We also have lovely old photos hung on the walls of the old train station, Goodwood and Cowdray.

We have a pretty 80ft garden that is delightful to sit in and we plan to have night time barbecues come summer, utilising local game. Malcolm loves birds so weíve put up 2 bird feeders on the grass verge across the road so that we and our guests can watch them whilst weíre in the pub. There were 13 different species of birds spotted that came to the feeders in just one afternoon. A few to list that often visit are; woodpeckers; nuthatches; chaffinches; dunnocks; grey, blue, marsh coal and long-tailed tits. There are also barn-owls and Pheasants about as well and the pub is a member of the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds (RSPB).If you are lucky you might also spot deer in the mornings.

Our garden has an established selection of shrubs and trees, and this summer we are going to plant a herb garden that will be used in our kitchen. The neighbouring garden is also of interest as it is host to 1000+ roosting starlings which can be seen in the evenings and are lovely to watch. We hope to get a rainfall tank at some point to catch rain water so it can be used for watering the garden and save on water.

Community

The Impacts of this Trip

Although we have only owned the pub since December 2012, we are already very much involved in the community. We run regular quiz nights to raise money for the local community and charity. Weíve raised money for the air ambulance and other charities we are involved with are cancer care and support and the Ted Foundation (a charity that supports the education of children). The pub also hosts other nights such as meet ups for a folk group on the first Sunday of the month, the pub Cricket Club meets, and vintage car clubs.

The community itself has some great places to visit; there are lots of little craft festivals and fairs that you can find out about in the parish news. I went to one in Millard that was amazing; they had weavers and pottery. There is also a little pottery place just up the road from here. A pub I would recommend is the Three Horse Shoes; they are on a hill so have beautiful views of the Downs. Other places to visit are Petersfield and Midhurst for lots of little shops, Cowdray Ruins, Goodwood Racecourse and National Trust properties Uppark House and Petworth House.

Petworth House is a lovely house to visit that is not far from here. We visited in December and there was a great Christmas market I would recommend. A lovely lady there ended up making all the greenery and Christmas decorations for the pub and the money we spent on our decorations went to the National Trust. The curtains in the rooms are made by a lady in Midhurst and we get our food from local farms. We use Rother Valley Organic Farm as it is sustainable and close by. Some or of meat comes from Goodwood Estate and occasionally we go to an old fashioned butcher in Bilingshurst; itís a bit further away but itís the best pork Iíve ever had. Cowdray are updating to be an organic dairy farm and when they do I will start using them. Itís really a chefís dream around here and people respond very well to the food. We change the menu really regularly depending on what meat we can get from the farms.